BCCI and BCB are not at the strongest terms currently. Credits - AFP
India-Bangladesh relations have taken a major hit in recent times. From a cricketing perspective, the major dispute erupted when the BCCI forced IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh international Mustafizur Rahman from the squad for IPL 2026.
In the aftermath, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided not to travel to India for their respective matches in the T20 World Cup 2026. The ICC intervened, and Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the tournament.
BCB is seeking to improve its relationship with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The newly appointed regime, under Aminul Haque's leadership, has prioritised mending cricket relations with India.
BCB writes to BCCI for revival of bilateral
In July 2025, the BCCI had postponed the Bangladesh tour, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is, citing a busy schedule. Initially, it was scheduled for September 2026. But later, the board cancelled the tour due to broken relations with the cross-border nation.
According to Dainik Jagran, the BCB has written a letter to the BCCI, eyeing to better the relationship with India.
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The Bangladesh board is looking to revive the cancelled bilateral series. It is understood that if India doesn’t travel to Bangladesh for the bilateral series, the Asia Cup 2027 will also be moved out to Sri Lanka or the UAE.
However, due to the geopolitical differences between India & Bangladesh, the BCCI will consult the State Government before discussing the revival of the bilateral tour.
BCB tried lifting IPL ban, JioStar intervened
Earlier in 2025, the then BCB regime, headed by Aminul Islam Bulbul, broke its ties with the BCCI after receiving backing from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). However, with a change in governance, the Bangladesh Board wants to improve its relations with India.
To make amends with India, the Bangladesh government was looking to lift the ban on IPL broadcasts in the country. But JioStar, which held IPL broadcasting rights in the region, ended its agreement TSports after the latter failed to make its due payments in time.
“The agreement stands terminated with immediate effect. The Bangladeshi firm had sublicensed the rights for IPL seasons from 2023 to 2027," ,” a JioStar letter had told TSports as quoted by Reuters.
Can BCB afford losing Asia Cup 2027?
BCB will lose a significant chunk of sponsorship and gate money revenue if it loses the hosting rights for the Asia Cup 2027.
Cricket is one of the biggest industries in the country, which generates millions of dollars through lucrative sponsorship deals.
Amending ties with BCCI becomes paramount for the Bangladesh board, given India is the biggest player in the sport in terms of generating money and talent.
For the 2023-27 cycle, the Indian board bagged INR 48,390 crore for the media rights of the IPL. Meanwhile, the board sold the rights of all home matches from September 2023 to March 2028 for INR 5,963 crore.
